HAL Introduces AI Tool "Microsoft 365 Copilot" to Approximately 8,000 Students

HAL (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya), a vocational school that trains specialists active in the IT and digital content industries, will introduce Microsoft 365 Copilot to approximately 8,000 enrolled students from April 1, 2026. While the utilization of generative AI is rapidly advancing, a major challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises in Japan is the shortage of human resources responsible for its introduction and integration into practical work. HAL redefines this challenge not as a "lack of individual skills" but as a "lack of mechanisms for talent to reach society," and is working to build a new education and human resource supply model that produces immediate assets for the industry. For this initiative, HAL is receiving technical knowledge and practical insights regarding generative AI utilization from Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. and Avanade Inc.

■The type of talent HAL aims to cultivate (From AI utilization to AI introduction and integration)

What HAL aims for is not merely to increase the number of "people who can use AI." It is to send core human resources into society who can introduce AI into corporate workplaces, embed it in operations, and achieve a state where using AI is not special—in other words, "AI Normal."

We cultivate "key persons for introduction" who can act as the "first person" on site.

■Characteristics of HAL's Education: Humanistic Education × Creativity × AI

To make generative AI functional in business, "the ability to ask questions," "the ability to make judgments," and "ethics and responsibility" are indispensable, even more so than prompts and operating methods. HAL has long emphasized humanistic education and creativity development as pillars of its education and has incorporated them into its curriculum. Generative AI education is not in conflict with these; rather, it is highly compatible. People think, people decide, and people take responsibility. AI is used as a "tool" for that purpose. With this philosophy, HAL will swiftly implement AI utilization education.

■Towards a scalable system through industry-academia collaboration

In designing and implementing educational content, Microsoft Japan and Avanade will provide technical knowledge and practical know-how, establishing a collaborative industry-academia system that connects educational and industrial sites. We are considering the development of "AI Skill Badges" to visualize students' AI utilization levels.

■Expectations from Companies

Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.

Executive Officer, Corporate Solutions Business Division General Manager

Mr. Jiro Kobayashi's Comment

We are greatly encouraged by the initiative of HAL vocational schools to introduce Microsoft 365 Copilot to all students across its three campuses in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, and to incorporate generative AI into the learning and creation process. Creating an environment where each student can utilize AI for organizing ideas, research, and exploring expressions to enhance creativity and practical skills is an important step in future talent development. Microsoft Japan will cooperate with HAL's initiatives, including safe and secure utilization in educational settings.

■Principal's Comments

HAL Tokyo Principal, Masashiro Tsuruho

The advancement of generative AI poses a significant question to the very nature of education.

I believe that what is important is not just learning new technologies, but fostering the ability to utilize them responsibly in society.

At HAL, we have advanced education that enables students to master AI as a practical tool, based on a clear division of roles where the educational institution is responsible for the quality of education during enrollment, and companies are responsible for outcomes after graduation. Furthermore, to use generative AI correctly, not only technology but also humanity, ethics, the ability to collaborate, and the creativity to ask questions are indispensable. The humanistic education and creativity development that HAL has emphasized are educational assets necessary in this era, and this initiative is an extension of that.

We feel it is very significant that, through collaboration with Microsoft Japan and Avanade, all students can implement learning that routinely utilizes generative AI. We will realize education that leads to sustainable value not only for student growth but also for companies requiring AI utilization and society as a whole.

HAL Osaka / HAL Nagoya Principal, Hirotaka Arai

HAL started with the training of engineers, which society strongly demanded when computers began to be fully introduced in Japan. Since then, we have always faced changes in the industry and have consistently sent out human resources truly needed in each era through advanced education.

What is required in the era of generative AI is not people who "know" AI. It is human resources who can bring AI into corporate workplaces, make it used, embed it, and achieve a state where using AI is commonplace—AI Normal. Even new graduates, or rather, precisely because they are new graduates, they can initiate change as the "first person" without being bound by workplace customs. HAL cultivates such introductory talent and sends them to the forefront of industry.

It's not about theoretical knowledge, but about learning through actual use, experimentation, and failure. Gaining such experience during student days becomes a great strength after entering society. This initiative is HAL's challenge in practical education, looking ahead to the "workplace of the next era."

◆Vocational School HAL

HAL vocational school has campuses in front of terminal stations in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, as well as in New York and Paris, training immediate assets in the fields of games, CG, music, car design, and IT. It pursues "industry-academia collaboration," which is considered the ideal for specialized education, offering direct instruction from leading professionals, case studies undertaken by students at the request of companies, and the introduction of software and hardware recognized by professionals. It achieves a 100% employment rate for those seeking jobs. Its three major guarantee systems—"Complete Employment Guarantee System," "National Qualification Pass Guarantee System," and "Salary Guarantee System"—are proof of its confidence.

From April 1, 2026, HAL will introduce Microsoft 365 Copilot to approximately 8,000 enrolled students, promoting education that integrates generative AI as a "practical tool" into daily learning.

Vocational School HAL: https://www.HAL.ac.jp

※Microsoft and Microsoft 365 are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

※Microsoft 365 is the name of a service provided by Microsoft Corporation.